In November 2012, a blogger wrote about her son dressing up as Daphne from Scooby-Doo for Halloween and got more than 4 million views and 47,204 comments. In April 2011, J. Crew ran an ad featuring creative director Jenna Lyons painting her son’s toenails pink and launched what will forever be known as Toemageddon. In December, a photo of a boy wearing pink zebra-print ballet flats to kindergarten drew more than 120,000 likes on Facebook and 19,000 shares before it was removed by the family. In August 2013, a mom wrote that her young son wore a pink headband in Walmart and was called a faggot by a stranger, which got a huge amount of sympathy until it was discovered that the story might be false.

I’ve watched these stories come out of nowhere and cause massive public reactions. People either despise the mothers — and sometimes the kids — or they celebrate them. There’s rarely a middle ground. And then, as quickly as they arrived, they disappear. But they aren’t isolated cultural phenomena, and they shouldn’t be treated that way. They are brief glimpses into the lives of a few boys who are part of a much larger group that faces much bigger problems than the occasional insult during a shopping trip. As the mother of a gender-nonconforming boy, I’m not so sure that turning them into miniature lightning rods is what they really need. Neither one event nor all of them as a whole has had the power to inspire and sustain a lasting conversation that raises awareness, understanding and acceptance of little boys who don’t conform to traditional gender norms.

Gender variance or transgender identity occurs in as many as 1 in 500 births, making it more common than childhood diabetes. Gender-nonconforming boys have the highest rate of suicide attempts and are three to six times more likely to suffer from major depression, addiction and unsafe sexual behaviors. More than 80% report being harassed at school and, even worse, many are harassed at home.

Life can be dangerous for boys like my son. In her book Gender Born, Gender Made, psychologist Diane Ehrensaft wrote, “To be gender nonconforming is to risk being killed, but on a daily basis it more likely means being harassed, confused and misunderstood in the community … There is no doubt that these children are among the ranks of minority individuals in our society who must anticipate bigotry and antipathy from those who either do not understand, are ill-informed, govern their thinking with myth rather than reality or … project hatred onto those who are different from themselves.”

These at-risk children and their families are not getting the help, empathy, acceptance and support they need, because for a lot of people it’s easier to live with phobias than to get educated about sex, gender and sexuality. Often those same people think gender-nonconforming children should change the gender identity they were born with — which is as much a part of them as their eye color and handedness — to avoid the problems they face. I argue that it’s never the job of a child to make an adult feel comfortable and that we as a society should be working to eradicate bullying behaviors, not the behaviors that prompted the bullying.

As they grow, gender-nonconforming children need to feel safe and understood. We help them when we stop seeing femininity in males as weakness and realize that colors, toys and clothes are for everyone regardless of whom they are marketed to. But that’s just a start.

Hopefully soon, stories about gender-nonconforming boys can start a lasting conversation and move the public toward launching all children healthily into adulthood, no matter their sex, gender, sexuality or color, clothing and toy preferences. I don’t want children like my son to be short-term media sensations; I want them to be inspirations for change that is long term and much needed.

Lori Duron’s blog RaisingMyRainbow.com is the first “mommy blog” to chronicle raising a gender-creative child and has had more than 1 million readers in nearly 170 countries. The views expressed are solely her own.

Duron is the author of Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son

Defying gender streotypes is not the same as being transgender. Is this so hard to understand? Trans children and children who don't fit into the gender roles of their society have absolutely nothing in common, other than the fact that they're often a victim of bullying. A gender identity is not the same as gender expression. Gender Identity is like an inner body-map conflicting with their physical sex, the reason why many transexual people go on hormones or get surgery.

A boy wearing a skirt is not transexual(not saying he can't be but you know what I mean) And it doesn't mean he's gay or anything. He just happens to like something that HIS current society(because it's changable) thinks of as "unmanly"

If I had children, I would let them play with whatever toys they want and support them without judgement. And I would not label them as something they aren't, just because I have internalized sexism and believe in gender stereotypes.

This topic should be the focus of sociologist in order to remove the ignorant stigmatism that the Judeo-Muslim-Christian religions have brought to us in the modern world. Take a look at Russia where anti-blastphemy laws are in line with the banning of "Homosexual propaganda". I predict that very soon we will see a reintroduction of the concentration camps of Siberia just for subversives and heretics and blastphemers....pagans.

Tansgender and homosexual boys need to be normalized by society at large in order to reduce the odds of severe mental illness, cirminality and other unhealthy behaviors. Because boys in the media are largely portrayed as purely heterosexual and looking the part gay and xgender boys often find movies and tv to be alienating and depressing. It makes them feel alone and isolated and different from everyone else. Being that gay love and xgender is difficult for them to speak about their unrequited loves cannot be a topic they discuss comfortably, much like the heterosexual kid. The heterosexual is called "cute" when he courts a girl. The gay kid is rejected and rebuffed when he dare courts a male he loves. Gay kids suffer more than straight kids and straight kids and conservative adults can be ruthlessly and sometimes unintentioanlly totally insensitive to the gay kid. Gay kids unite! Get togetherf and be who you are. You are not lower than the straight boys of tv and movies!!! Get the word out to make these kids feel legit and stop showing them what they're not!!.

When are females going to stop the ridiculousness of shaving their legs and armpits ? It is such a clone mentality - females need to begin thinking on their own and not follow the dogma of the male dominant culture that forces them to shave. Females allow themselves to be objectified by the male dominant culture but they ( the females ) are too afraid to ' look different'. At 10 years of age, my room-mate's neice is asking " when can I start shaving? " What a young age to start being brainwashed.

This is not about the color pink. This is about allowing and encouraging children (specifically little boys) to dress and identify with girls.

We as parents are charged with protecting, guiding, and teaching these children as they are too young and immature to do so by themselves. It is up to us to show them, both through teaching and through action, what their part in society, and life, is. It is criminal that an adult would indulge a young boy to believe it was acceptable to dress, look, and act like a girl. That is a form of neglect, just as if they didn't properly care for the child in any other way that they're supposed to.

I have worn pink shirts for many years, In fact, I still own and wear a pink tennis shirt and pink socks t match.. Everyone thinks I look great in it! I will be 80 years old, have been married to the same woman for 58 years (as of Sept. 4th), have 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. I have in the past--during the 50s, chartreuse, hot lemon, hot pink, cerrise, etc., which were not considered to be gender-bound. In all these years, I have never heard nor experienced any derogatory remarks.

Girls can wear jeans
And cut their hair short
Wear shirts and boots
'Cause it's OK to be a boy
But for a boy to look like a girl is degrading
'Cause you think that being a girl is degrading
But secretly you'd love to know what it's like
Wouldn't you
What it feels like for a girl

The real problem nowadays is when boys do not conform to the politically correct way in which they must act. A "boy-boy" today (the one who wants to climb trees, play rough and skin his knees, or G*d forbid, make a "bang bang" sound) is labeled as a problem that must be corrected, an insensitive kid; or an ADHD/problem child who must be medicated. It is the "de-boying" of boys (and yes, I know that word does not exist).

If dad pushes a lawn mower, his 2 year old son will want to push the lawn mower, if dad wears boots, his son will want to wear boots. If there is no positive male role model, a little boy will copy his mom. It's not genetics or any gender bending minority class that needs protection, it is basic human behavior. A good mother in that situation will find a way to reinforce interests and behavior that will make her son successful in life.

Is wearing pink considered gender non-conforming for boys? This is a serious question, as I volunteer in my public school district as a math tutor and classroom assistant for seventh graders. I have been doing this for seven years now, for about 15-20 hours per week. I would estimate that about a third of the boys in grade seven wear pink to school on a fairly regular basis - either polo shirts, tees under polos, or pink sneakers. Some wear pink accessories, like rubber bracelets. This is not a statement of transgender identity by any means - it's simply a color that happens to be popular. We do have a few boys (and girls, too) who are gender non-conforming in quite overt ways - wearing dramatic eye make-up, mixing girls' and boys' clothing for a certain fashion look, elaborate hair styles, etc. Because of the dress code, students cannot get too individualized in their looks, but they can, and do, choose boys or girls clothes. Color, though, just does not seem to be a part of the equation here.

I have, and have always had, a very strong reaction against the color pink. I really hate it. And it doesn't mater what the context is. Whether it's clothing or wallpaper or bathroom tile. I believe these types of reactions are in-born and hard-wired. I have a lot of very strong likes and dislikes against a number of things, some of which some people may think inconsequential, similar to my reaction about the color pink. I think it's hard-wired. And I'm gay, out for over 30 years, and as butch as they come.

A mother seeking attention. She's SUCH a media WH0RE that she uses her poor child as a magnet for her obsession. She so wanted a little girl and so hates little boys SO much that she's trying to change her child's gender by subtle and not-so-subtle manipulation of the child.

I can see a child wanting to dress up for halloween. That's one thing. Wearing a little girl's clothes for every day is just not something a 4 or 5 year old is going to come up with on their own.

POINT IN CASE: The mother that writes a "GENDERMOMMY" blog all about her 5 year old who at age 4 told her he was really a girl so from that point on - she dressed him as a girl. OH, and then - of course - she felt obliged to write all about it in her blog that she was conveniently writing before her 4 year-old's revelation.

Let kids wear what they want. Practice tolerance. Open your mind. If a child is happy, why would anyone hate on that?

Why raise your children to be a stereotype? I would want my children to grow up and be themselves. It is not the children with the problem, it is people's close-minded upbringing that has led to close-minded adults.

Gender stereotypes promote inequality and that's an outdated tradition that needs to be abolished.

We let girls wear jeans no one thinks they need are " at-risk children" We applaud it when they play sports and no one suggests that "their families are not getting the help, empathy, acceptance and support they need" Since when did a child's clothing have anything to do with their sex, gender and sexuality?

We always allow the "subservient" part of a culture female, minority to dress or "act" like the "dominate" male, white and in fact applaud it (great you want to be an attorney, doctor, engineer) to a young girl but WHAT? you want to be a nurse or a teacher to a young boy? (oddly the leaders in some fields like cooking/chefs are dominated by men.

In any case it sounds like it is the author of this article that has more issues than the kids do.. Let them wear what they want - it really doesn't have anything to do with your gender or sexuality.

@GodanNambudiripad Apparently being a vegetarian is feminine. And liking beer is masculine.

Oh , and some random white dude decided "boy for blue, girl for pink" in the 1940s. Before that pink was a male color (an aggressive shade associated with red) and blue was for girls (seen as dainty and feminine). It's all random, color assignments...only idiot would judge someone based on the color they were wearing or prefer? Right?

@slegend You must like some pretty gross women and have a fetish for monkeys. I think most men prefer there women hairless under there arm and legs, but to each there own. You may want to move to certain places in Europe may france to meet the love of your life or try the San diego Zoo.

@xalf18 I to wear pink and i am 63, and i have been married 35 years, but we are secure older men, kids in school are cruel and they have enough pressure on them without adding to it. when they are mature around other mature adults they can wear what ever color they want . I would not advise them to wear pink from 3grade thru 12 th grade.

@jennifergboard It started as a practice in France to tell the difference in gender of twin boys and girls. And correct, pink was designated for males (seen as an aggressive color and shade of red) and blue was considered dainty and feminine for girls.

The USA copied this and then randomly switched it back up in the 1940s (it appears as though a white male leader preferred blue for boys and the sheeple followed in hot pursuit).

Color has nothing to do with gender. Men who save they "naturally" are adverse to the color pink are just parroting whatever western society says men should feel. It's sad men are more likely to emulate a muscle guy from an action movie then actually exhibit free thinking (women aren't much better).

@OldMom I agree to a point.. But we have all lost our desire? to adheare to social norms... They are too constricting...If someone is a boy boy, good as long as he is not mean... If someone is a girl boy, who cares if he is gentle...lets just all get along..boy boys are misunderstood because most boys are being raised by single moms who don`t understand... boy behavior is usualy a bit rougher than girls... Moms it is ok to be a bit rough when you are a boy...so allow it...if he is girly. so what...

That is my son in a nut shell. he is a boy-boy. he is rough, he loves physical play, he climbs tree's, tries to dig to china etc. his school keeps sending letters home that he is "immature" and has tried to hold him back every year (he is in 2nd grade now)

he is also great in Gymnastics, wears pink and orange belt in teakwondo

@bfvet The AMA is references 40 year old data from tiny European studies. Based on the number of related surgeries in America in the past 15 years, the minimum ratio of post-operative trans women is 1/2500. 1/500 is a likely prediction of the number of people with enough gender dysphoria to be classified as transsexual. Gender-nonconforming people are actually 2-5% of the population.

@bfvet She didn`t say TRUE gender dysphoria... She said gender non conforming ... there is a HUGE difference..I am at college studying gender issues right now... There is a plethora to the gender spectrum...It requires years of study to scratch the surface... And new facts are being gleaned faster than they can be printed....Genetic studies, are opening windows into the brain and chemistry controls, that we never even believed possible...informational facts, are replacing peoples opinions ,that are only rooted in hearsay,,,It is about time that society thinking catches up with technological information...No insult intended...

@eagle11772 Wow, a self proclaimed "butch" gay man who "hates" the various shades of red. Because it's "hard-wired"....maybe your masculinity is just too intense for a regular person?

Is the color of a cooked salmon just too much? Are pigs just the worst? What happens if all you have to eat is peaches? Do you just starve to death? When you brush your teeth and see your pink tongue, does your hatred just swell up inside?

Dude, you might wanna also stay away from that pesky red color, I hear it's like the gay older brother to pink....

I don't know - why DO these mothers want their boys to be brought up as the stereotypical gender-confused child they were hoping for?

Isn't it entirely coincidental that you NEVER find a single dad raising a little boy who insists on wearing girl's clothes? Why is it ALWAYS a mother that has a boy she claims wants to be a girl - uh, I mean where the little boy claims that he wants to be a girl???

@devin4 It's not a parental "failure" at all. These mothers (never dads, coincidentally) are DELIBERATELY manipulating their little boys.

Isn't it funny that you never hear of a mother claiming their daughter wants to be a boy and who forces her daughter to dress and act like a boy? Isn't it also coincidental that if you ask the family of the mother what sex she wanted when she was pregnant and they all say "She wanted a girl"?

How sick is it that you'd try and change the gender of your child by manipulation just because you wanted a little dolly to play dress-up with?

@....@jennifergboard This is 2013, and not France there is to much bulling going on in schools they do not need to add to it by sending a 7th grade boy to school wearing pink ,because mommy thinks he looks good in it and should be different. There is to much peer pressure for kids

@SamuelAdams@seajlim You don`t here about it from men BECAUSE they are embarressed at their sons ways, and don`t want people giving the father a hard time about making a man out of him...There ARE plenty of father raised girl /boys...It is something that they are born with... Identity is who you are.. from early on... You did not choose yours ,as well...It is real...It is who they are...

@SamuelAdamsI'm not a dad but even if I were a single dad, I would have no issues with my son wearing pink. Like I said, if someone has a problem with my son wearing pink, that's their problem.

Want to raise a "man"? Allow him to dress however he wants. Teach him to stand by his beliefs and be confident. Teach him to not be swayed by what others may think about him. Teach him how to love, be supportive, show compassion. It is these "men" who have no problems wearing pink.

@SamuelAdams How sick is it that you would actually post this, let alone that you MIGHT actually believe it? I am guessing you are not a parent, since anyone who has tried to persuade or dissuade a 2-5 year old child from doing something on which s/he has set his/her heart, knows it is IMPOSSIBLE io make a child wear something they don't like. The opposite is also true -- it takes something close to surgery to remove a favorite piece of clothing from a kid so it can be washed. So if a boy wants to wear pink, it'll happen; and if a girl wants to dress like a firefighter, that'll happen, too. The only people who seem nonplussed are adults,--particularly those who happen to be homophobic bullies, or want to seem like such.

@....@Openminded1@eagle11772 I am a cat lover have one my self, but fox are cute too, they have one problem in the wild, that is the have a very strong odor that is very distinctive to the fox only and it is not great, but beautiful fir.

But do you honestly believe that a 5 year old has the maturity and
information required to claim to be a girl trapped in a boy's body? And
if they make this claim, do you really believe it's acceptable to just
say, "well, ok, let's go buy you a dress then"?

Hell, my son wanted to be a puppy at age 5, that didn't mean I went out looking for hair and whisker transplants.

@seajlim If you ever ARE a dad, you will be an awesome one. My husband is a dad with the same perspective regarding tolerance and how to raise a man that you express. We just sent our son off to college, I may be biased in thinking that he's grown up to be an awesome human being, but I regularly have adults from the community introduce themselves and tell me what a great kid he is. He wore pink whenever he felt like it - it's still one of his favorite colors! My husband wears pink, too. Both of "my" guys are over 6 feet tall, 200+ pounds, athletic, polite, handsome, intelligent humanists. Please keep tspreading the truth about real men. Maybe it will catch on and you will not find yourself in the minority anymore. We can hope, anyway!